Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf condemned a video shared by US President Donald Trump that claimed Iran had admitted defeat.
The exchange signals a deepening diplomatic rift as the U.S. continues to advance a sanctions campaign known as "Operation Economic Outcast."
Qalibaf described the video as false propaganda. He responded to the president's claims by using the slogan, "Make America Hungry Again," Qalibaf said [1].
The dispute centers on a video shared by Trump that portrayed Iran as defeated and starving. In the content, Trump referenced a figure of 47 million hungry Americans [1].
This rhetorical clash occurs as the U.S. administration tightens economic pressure on Tehran. The sanctions effort is designed to isolate the Iranian economy from global markets, a strategy that has led to increased volatility in the region.
Qalibaf said the edited video was an attempt to mislead the public about the actual state of the conflict. The Iranian official said the claims of defeat were fabricated for political gain [2].
Germany has also weighed in on the situation, criticizing the economic woes and the potential for war resulting from the current U.S. approach toward Iran, reports said [2].
“"Make America Hungry Again"”
The escalation of rhetoric between the Iranian Parliament and the White House suggests that diplomatic channels remain closed. By mirroring the president's own campaign slogans, Tehran is attempting to pivot the narrative from Iranian economic instability to domestic American social issues. This exchange occurs within the broader framework of 'Operation Economic Outcast,' indicating that the U.S. intends to maintain maximum economic pressure regardless of the rhetorical response from Iranian leadership.
